Last Post – Lt Col (Retd) John Gilmour OllerheadLast Post –

Lt Col John Gilmour Ollerhead died peacefully on the 16^th of November aged 89.  John was commissioned into the Gunners in 1954.  Loving husband of Elaine, his late wife, Father to David and Fiona, and grandfather to Rufus, Barnaby and Oliver.  Whilst at Sandhurst, with the legendary y/o course of 41, where he made lifelong friends, he took part in the late Queen’s coronation parade, holding the line between Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square.  Two memories from that day: firstly, that the late Queen gave the line a huge smile when she went past and secondly having to dress out ‘in good order’ to let the Archbishop of Canterbury through, who was running late having got lost on the way to the ceremony.  

John saw active service in Korea and Malaya with 48 Field Regiment, from 1955-58 and was to return to Malaya in 1964, working with the Gurkhas in jungle patrols and earning himself an honorary “Kukri” as a result.  Returning to the UK, he did a tour in Northern Ireland in 1971 during the troubles and two tours in Germany, firstly with 27 Medium Regiment in Lippstadt, commanding 23 Battery (which he described as the best command of his life), then to 1 Division HQ in Verden.   The Army asked him to stay on in Germany for a third consecutive tour, but John asked for a posting back in the UK and was rewarded with a posting as 2 i/c to Benbecula rocket range in the Outer Hebrides – technically in the UK, but not what John was hoping for.  After further posting, including the MoD in London, John retired from the Army.  He forged a new career as Bursar at a local prep school near Salisbury before finally retiring with a gift of a set of golf clubs and golf lessons to become part of a well know golf four who had the combined age of over 300 years.  

In retirement, he volunteered for the Citizens Advice Bureau, and Salisbury Cathedral as a tour guide and tower guide, only stopping showing people up the Cathedral spire in his mid-seventies because the insurance wouldn’t let him.  He was very proud that his son, David, followed him into the Army, serving with the Honourable Artillery Company in a sabre squadron in STA.  He has variously been described by colleagues as having a great joie de vivre, lighting up the room and a wonderful telling of his many stories from a long and well lived life.  His memorial service will be on the 13^th of December at 14:30 in St. Lawrence, Stratford-sub-Castle, Salisbury, Wilts and any ex-comrades will be very welcome.